Abstract: To gently stop a centrifuge, particularly for use in blood transfusion procedures including plasmapheresis, a centrifuge motor is first braked by reverse current application with high braking torque, to reduce the speed thereof from operating speed to less than 1000 rpm, for example between 800 to 500 rpm; and then braked under dynamic braking conditions, preferably under continuously variable torque conditions, until it is about stopped, for example at close to 50 rpm, and then permit it to coast to a stop. The braking is effected gently and can be achieved from a nominal speed of 6000 rpm to stopped condition in about 2 minutes, thus permitting blood centrifuging for plasmapheresis in about 8 minutes.